In June, 2008 I was offered an agreement for heating oil. The sales representative urged me to sign an agreement that would guarantee a rate of $4.749 Per gallon through 6/30/09. I was told that this would be the maximum I would pay. I understood this statement to mean that I would pay a maximum of 4.749 But that I would pay less if the market rate fell below 4.749. I was offered no other option. Several months later I discovered that I had agreed to a fixed rate of $4.749 Regardless of how low the market rate fell.

I am a senior on a fixed income, I have lost 50% of my annuity during the past year and my wife has serious health issues. It would cost me $400 to $500 per month to heat my home with oil at $4.749 Per gallon. I turned off my heat thermostat to the oil burner and I have been heating my home with electric baseboard and electric space heaters at a cost of $175 per month.

I have told leffler that I am heating with electric, but they insist that I must order oil and have threateneded to sue me for breach of contract. I did not agree to purchase any specific amount of oil. My oil tank is full
and leffler continues to threaten me. They have just billed me $575 for breach of contract. It is my decision how to heat my home. I cannot afford oil at $4.749 Per gallon, therefore, I am using electric heaters.

On January 23, 2009 a leffler deliveryman came onto my property without notification or consent and attempted to break the lock on my oil tank cap. I again informed him that I was using electric, not oil, to heat my home.

There is a perception that seniors are easy prey for fraud, deception and scams. I have been the victim of four attempts to commit fraud or deceptive practices during the past year. I will not yield to leffler or any other vendor who seeks to deceive me or scam me.